Continuous kiln.



G. E. GOLDNER.

CONTINUOUS KILN. APPLIGATION FILED 115.23, 1911.

Patented D00. 5, 1911.v m

NIQNPN coLuMmA PLANOGRAP" co.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

G. E. GOLDNER. CONTINUOUS KILN. APPLIoATIoN FILED PEB. 2s, 191'1.

4Patented Dec. 5, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

cnLUMuM PLANOGRAPH CO.. WASHINGTON; D. C,

G. E. GOLDNER.

CONTINUOUS KILN.

APPLIOATION FILED PEB. 23, 1911.

Patented Dec. 5, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

.1% .ERK

mm1 m.

CBLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH GEORGE ELMER GOLDNER, OF FORT DODGE, IOWA, ASSIGNORTO HIMSELF AND VIN- CENT CLAY PRODUCTS COMPANY, 0F FORT DODGE, IOWA, ACOPARTNERSI-IIP.

CONTINUOUS KILN.

Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented Dec. 5, 1911.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. GOLDNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fort Dodge, Webster county, Iowa, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Continuous Kilns; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in continuous kilns forburning ceramic ware or other plastic material articles; and the objectsand nature of my invention will be readily understood by those skilledin the art in the light of the following eX- planation of theaccompanying drawings illustrating what I now consider to be mypreferred embodiments from among other formations and arangements withinthe spirit and scopeof my invention.

An object of the invention is to provide certain improvements incontinuous kilns whereby such kilns are adapted for operation withvarious kinds of fuel, such as coal, natural gas, fuel oil, producer gasand the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide improvements indown-draft kilns whereby the space between the crown or arch of the kilnchamber and the ware piled therein to be burned, is utilized as thecombustion chamber.

A further object of the invention is to provide certain improvements incontinuous' kilns whereby the air and fuel are brought together in thekiln chambers above the bag walls.

A further object of the invention is to provide continuous kilns withiire holes opening through the tops thereof and into the kilncompartments above the bag walls.

A further object of the invention is to provide hot air flues betweenthe arches of adjacent chambers of continuous kilns, in connection withtop lire holes into said chambers having valve controlled openings intosaid lines, whereby hot air can be introduced into the chambers orwithdrawn therefrom through said flues and holes.

A further object of the invention is to provide the chambers ofcontinuous kilns with series of tire holes opening thereinto at one sideof the crown or arch thereof and above the bag walls therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for introducingthe fuel into the chambers of continuous kilns through the portions ofthe arches or crowns thereof immediately above the bag walls.

A further object of the invention is to provide down draft kilns withelevated tables immediately below lire holes through the kiln crowns.

A further object of the invention is to provide elevated tablesextending from the division to the bag walls of continuous kiln chambersand arranged directly below lire holes through the crowns of suchchambers for t-he diffusion of heat, receptio-n of glazing material, orthe like.

A further object of the invention is to provide the chambers of acontinuous kiln, each with a longitudinal series of fire holes openingthrough its crown with independent dampers for controlling said holes,respectively.

A further object of the invention is to provide certain improvements inarrangements of lines and combinations of parts whereby a highlyetlicient and advantageous continuous kiln will be produced.

The invention consists in cert-ain novel features in construction andarrangement and in combinations as more fully and particularly set forthhereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying draw ings Figure 1, is a top plan view ofa con tiuous kiln embodying various features of my invention. Fig. 2, isa sectional elevation taken in the plane of the line 2 2, Fig 1. Fig. 3,is a section on the lines 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4:, is a section on thelines 4 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5, is an enlarged detail cross section. Fig. 6,is a detail horizontal section on the line 6 6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7, is adetail section in the .plane of the line 7 7, Fig. 1, showing thearrangement when producer gas is used for firing.

In the specific example illustrated, the kiln is oblong or rectangularin form having suitable vertical end and side Walls and a roof or topand is internally divided by various longitudinal and transversepartitions or walls into chambers or compartments C. Each chamber isarranged transversely of the kiln and in length is equal to somethinglike one half of the width of the kiln. These chambers are arranged intwo series or rows longitudinally of the kiln. The two rows of chambersare separated by a strong heavy division wall 1, arranged centrally andlongitudinally throughout the length of the kiln and forming the innerend walls of the chambers. The longitudinal side walls 2 of the kilnform the outer end walls of the chambers and are provided with dooropenings 20, one for each chamber. Heavy walls 3, are provided at theends o-f the kiln and these end walls 3, form the outer side orlongitudinal walls of the four end chambers and aid in supporting theroof or top of the kiln.

rfhe chambers C, are separated by partition or division walls 4,arranged transversely of the kiln and extending from the center wall 1.,to the side wall 2, and these walls 4, carry the crowns or arches 5, ofthe compartments 3 and extend therefrom down to the base or foundation6, of the kiln on which the side and end walls 2 and 3, and the centerwall 1, also rest. Each chamber C is formed or provided with an elevatedhorizontal floor 7.

The main draft flue 10, of the kiln is arranged throughout the length ofthe lower portion of the longitudinal center wall 1, of the kiln and atone end discharges into the stack 11, if so desired, through suction fan12.

Each chamber C, is provided with a bottom draft flue 13, arrangedthroughout the length thereof rest-ing on the foundation 6 and locatedbelow the floor 7. The chamber draft flues 13 at their inner ends openupwardly into the main draft flue 10, through the floor thereof, anddampers 14, are provided for opening and closing the outlets of thedraft flues 13 into the common draft flue 10. An independent damper 14,is provided to control the outlet of each flue 13 into the common Hue10. In the specific example illustrated, I show these dampers in theform of bodily and vertically movable valves located in the flue 10, andoperated by lift rods 15, extending vertically to readily accessiblepoints above the kiln top for manipulation by the persons operating thekiln. These chamber draft fines 13, are arranged along the side portionsof the chambers and communicate with the interiors of the chambersthrough perforations or ducts 16 in the floors 7 while at the oppositeside portions of the chambers vertical bag walls 17, are providedextending throughout the length of the chambers and terminating a .shortdistance below the spring of the chamber crowns or arches. These bagwalls extend down to the base or foundation G, and are spaced from theadjacent chamber side walls 4, a short distance to form vertical spacesor passages 40, opening into the chambers just below the spring of thearches and extending down to the foundation 6. Lateral passages 18,extend through the chamber side walls 4, and open into the sides of thechamber draft fine 13, placing said flue 13 in communication with thepassages 40, behind the bag walls of the adjacent chambers, as will bereadily understood by those skilled in the art.

Across the ends of the kiln, and in the walls 3, I provide bottom draftfines 19, extending the full width of the kiln and placing the chambersat the ends of the kiln in communication through their bottom draft luesand passages 40, behind the bag walls, as will be well understood bythose skilled in the art, so that the draft can pass from one endchamber into its bottom draft fine and laterally through ducts from saidbottom draft flue into said adjacent end draft flue 19, and therefromthrough lateral ducts into the vertical passage behind the bag wall ofthe corresponding end chamber at t-he same end of the kiln.

In the top portion ofthe kiln, I arrange hot air or gas receiving anddistributing branch or chamber iiues 21, arranged between the crowns ofthe chambers and in and longitudinally of the side walls 4, separatingthe chambers. These flues 21, are closed at their ends usually by theside walls 2, and central longitudinal division wall 1. The flues 21,are usually arranged between the spandrels of the chamber crowns orarches, one of said flues being provided for each chamber C. At theirinner ends, the iiues are provided with vertical passages or ducts 22,opening through the kiln top and these outlets are normally closed bysuitable caps or plugs. At their outer ends, said flues are providedwith vertical ducts or passages 23, also opening through the kiln topAand normally closed by suitable caps or plugs. A main hot airdistributing flue 24, common to all the flues 21, is arrangedlongitudinally, and about throughout the length of the longitudinaldivision wall 1, and this distributing flue is preferably closed at itsends and is designed to receive hot air from any one or more chambersand deliver the same to any other chamber or chambers. The distributingflue is hence provided with topor vertical ducts or passages 25,opening` through the kiln top and normally closed by plugs or caps. Thepassages 25, are so spaced and distributed throughout the length of theflue that there will be a passage 25, opening through the kiln topvadjacent to each chamber flue passage 22, opening through the kiln top,whereby any chamber flue passage 22, can be placed in directcommunication with a distributing flue passage 25 to receive or deliverhot air, by means of a removable hood or connector 26, arranged on thekiln top and extending from passage to passage and having its bottomopenings registering therewith, as will be understood by those skilledin the art, said hoods broadly being well known in the art. Gf course,wherever pasages are to be placed in communication through the medium ofsuch hoods, the plugs or caps sealing such passages are first removed.These hoods can be readily shifted from one set of passages to another.

Each chamber is provided throughout the length thereof with a row orseries of comparatively closely arranged separate vertical lire holes orpassages 27 at their upper ends opening through the kiln top and attheir lower ends opening through the chamber arch or crown near thespring thereof and approximately directly over the chamber bag wall andthe vertical passage 4,0, behind said bag wall. These fire holes areusually closed at their upper ends by suitable caps or plugs, exceptingthe fire holes of the chamber or chambers being fired by oil or naturalgas applied through nozzles inserted in such fire holes. Each chamberflue 21, is placed in communication with all of the fire holes of itschamber by lateral passages or ports 28, opening from the lower portionof the adjacent side of the flue laterally into the tire holesintermediate their vertical lengths, a separate port 28, being providedbetween each fire hole of a chamber and said chamber flue. These ports28, are separately controlled by swingable valves or dampers 29,arranged therein and carried by manually operative vertical rotatablevalve rods or handles 30 extending to readily accessible points at thekiln top, whereby any port can be opened or closed independently ofother ports between fire holes and the same chamber flue. These ports28, and the fire holes place the chamber flue throughout its length incommunication with the chamber throughout its length, to deliver the hotair thereto or to take hot air therefrom, and the flow of hot air can becontrolled by the valves, and through the medium of said valves thechamber flue can be completely shut off from the fire holes.

There fuel oil or natural gas are to be employed for tiring thechambers, pipe lines can be arranged on the kiln top with nozzles orburners extending down in the fire holes of the various chambers, sothat the fuel will be introduced into the chamber being fired throuohthe fire holes. In the chamber or chambbers being thus fired by fuelintroduced through the ire holes, the swingable valves will be adjustedto close ports 28, between the lire holes and chamber lines 21.

Where coal is used as fuel, it can be introduced into the chamber beingfired through the tire holes, as will be understood by those skilled inthe art, so as to burn on the tables hereinafter described.

To provide for the use of producer gas as the fuel for firing thechambers, 1 provide iiues 31, within the top portions of the side walls2, and throughout the lengths thereof, and usually extending along' oneend wall topoints 32 (see dotted lines E ig. l) to receive gas from anysuitable gas producer. The producer gas supply flues 31 are providedwith top outlet passages or ports 33, opening through the kiln topopposite and adjacent to the vertical inlet ports or passages 23, of thechamber lues 2l, and these ports 33, are closed by suitable plugs orcaps except at thev outlet port supplying gas to the chamber beingfired. Gas is supplied to the chamber being red by a suitable removablehood 34, on the kiln top and placed over the open ports 23, 33, of theflue 21, of said chamber and the opposite or adjacentproducer gas outletport. rl'he producer gas is thus conducted into the flue 21, of saidchamber and is distributed through the ports 28, into the lire holes andtherefrom delivered into one side of the chamber above the bag wall andvertical passage 1.0. The proportion of gas delivered into the end andintermediate portions of the chamber can be accurately controlled by thevalves 29, so that the ware in various portions of the chamber can beuniformly burned or fired.

Each chamber is provided with elevated horizontal combustion anddiffusing tables 35, arranged directly under the lower ends of the fireholes and spaced a distance therefrom, and these tables are spaced aparta distance approximately equal to the spacing of the ire each tire hole.These tables can extend from the bag wall across the passage 40 to t-headjacent chamber side wall 4, and in the speciic example illustrated, Ishow the tables formed and supported by corbels built out from the bagand side walls with the tables spaced apart to provide spaces for theupward discharge of the hot air from passage 40, into the chamber tomeet the fuel entering through the re holes and to support combustion inthe combustion space in the upper part of the chamber above the warestacked therein. These tables will receive the fuel dropped through thefire holes when coal is used for firing and thus form tire or combustionbeds or tables and means for diffusing or distributing the heat. Whereoil or gas is used for fuel, the heat and burning gases are directeddown against the tables and are thereby diffused throughout the upperportion of the chamber. The tables can also receive salt, borax or othermaterial used for glazing the ware in the kiln, such glazing materialbeing vaporized or reduced while on the tables by the intense heat atthe portion of the kiln where the tables are located and distributedtherefrom throughout the stack of ware in the chamber.

holes, a table being located under In Fig. 1, of the drawings, I showthe kiln provided With sixteen chambers, arranged in two longitudinalrows of eight chambers each, which I have numbered consecutively 1 to16, and indicated on each a possible condition of the interiors thereofas illustrative of a method of operation. For instance, assuming thatchamber No. 4, is burning, for example being fired by producer gasintroduced into the chamber fine 21, thereof from producer gas supplyiue 31 through hood 34. The gas Will pass through ports 28, and the fireholes 27, into the chmaber above the bag -Wall and diffusing tables. Thechamber No. 3 will be cooling, the temperature therein being sayapproximately 15000, and the hot air Will be drawn therefrom through itsperforated floor down into its bottom draft flue and laterally therefrominto the vertical passage 40, of the burning chamber 4. The hot air frompassage 40, will meet the burning gas above the bag Wall to supportcombustion in the combustion space of chamber No. 4 beneath the archthereof and above the Ware stacked in said chamber. 'I'he draft inchamber No. 4 will be down through the stack of Ware therein and throughthe perforated floor to the bottom draft flue which is on the oppositeside of the chamber from the bag Wall, and from the draft flue the hotproducts will pass into chamber No. 5 through its vertical passage 40.Chambers Nos. 5, 6, 7, and 8, will be filled With Ware under process ofheating up preparatory to burning. The hot products from the burningoperation carried on in chamber No. 4 being passed successively throughsaid chambers 5 to 8, inclusive, by the suction or draft of the maindraft Hue or its suction fan. The bottom draft flues 13, of chambersNos. 4 to 7, being closed from communication with the main draft flue10, While the bottom draft flue of chamber No. 8, is open tocommunication with the main draft fine 10, the valve 14 of the bottomdraft iue of chamber No. 8, being elevated.

In the specific example as illustrated by Fig. 1, the Ware in chambersNos. 1, 2, and 3 has been fired and these chambers are in process ofcooling. A portion of thehot air from chamber No. 1, is being takenthrough the fire holes and flue 21, into the hot air distributing flue24, by means of the hood 26. lThe hot air from chambers Nos. 2 and 3, isbeing drawn therefrom to supply the air for combustion in chamber No. 4,by the draft of the main draft fine 10, and its suction fan. Chamber No.16, contains burned Ware that is cooling and the hot air therefrom isbeing drawn through its fire holes and flue 21 into the hot airdistributing flue 24 through the medium of hood 26, as hereinbeforedescribed in connection With chamber No. 1. Chambers Nos. 9 and 10,contain green Ware which is being dried, initially dried by the hot airsupplied to the distributing flue 24, from chambers Nos. 1 and 16, alsopossibly 15. This hot air is taken from flue 24, through hoods 26 andconducted down into the chamber hot air flues 21 and is dischargedtherefrom into chambers Nos. 9 and 10, through the ports 28 and the tireholes, and the down draft of the hot air through said chambers Nos. 9and 10, is maintained by placing the bottom draft flues of said chambersin communication With the main draft iiue 10, by opening the valves 14of the bottom draft flues of said two chambers. The chambers Nos. 11,12, 13 and 14 are being emptied of burned Ware and filled With greenWare.

Air can be variously supplied to the chambers containing brick in theprocess of cooling, which air after being heated is drawn oft' to supplythe chambers containing brick being dried and the distribution of thehot air for drying is determined and controlled through the medium ofthe independent valves or dampers 29. Cold air can pass into the kilnthrough chambers being emptied of burned brick. For instance, in thearrangement of Fig. 1, cool air can pass in through the open door ofchamber No. 14, and down through the floor thereof, and into and throughchambers Nos. 15 and 16, and then across through flue 19, and out at thetop of the bag Wall into chamber No. 1. A portion of the hot air fromchamber No. 1, is taken out through the fire holes, passages 28 and flue21, for supplying drying air and heat to chamber No. 10. A portion ofthe air drawn from the open chamber No. 14, is also taken oif from thecooling chamber No. 15, for supplying hot air for drying chamber No. 10.The hot air travels through the hot air system for drying because thedraft therethrough is stronger than is the draft ahead through chambersNos. 2, 3, and 4, but it is in this connection that the several seriesof independent manually controlled valves 29, perform peculiar functionsand attain important results in controlling the .quantity of hot air-delivered from the cooling compartments for drying and the distributionand equalization of the draft therein as Well as in the dryingcompartments. Furthermore, these series of independent manuallycontrolled valves arranged longitudinally of each compartment alsoperform important functions in controlling the draft as Well as thedistribution and equalization thereof longitudinally of burningcompartments as Well as heating compartments.

rIhose skilled in the art understand that the process of filling,drying, burning, cooling and emptying chambers is being carried oncontinuously, the burning process advancing from chamber to chamber.

It is also Well understood that each chamber is provided with centervent or testing holes or openings 39 through the kiln top, through whichthe condition of the ware can be tested or otherwise determined.

It is evident that various changes, modilications, and variations mightbe resorted to in the forms, constructions, arrangements, andcombinations set forth without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the eXactdisclosure hereof, but consider myself entitled to all such departuresas fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is l. A kiln chamber provided with a series of elevatedspaced diffusing and glazing ma# terial receiving tables, and means fordirecting heat downwardly against said tables.

2. A kiln having a chamber, a series of horizontally disposed spacedelevated tables arranged along the upper portion of said chamber, thecrown of said chamber provided with a series of spaced fire holesopening downwardly into the upper part of said chamber immediately oversaid tables, re` spectively, and means for supplying fluid fuel in saidfire holes, whereby the burning fluid fuel is directed downwardly fromsaid fire holes toward and is diffused by said tables, substantially asdescribed.

3. A kiln having a chamber, means for supplying air to the upper portionof one side of said chamber, means for maintaining down draft throughsaid chamber, a series of horizontally disposed elevated tables arrangedalong one side of the upper portion of said chamber at said air supplythereinto, said chamber being provided with a series of fire holesopening downwardly into the upper portion thereof immediately over anddirected toward said table, and means for supplying fluid fuel to saidfire holes7 whereby the burning fluid fuel is directed from said fireholes toward said tables in the presence of air supplied by said meansfor supplying air.

4t. A kiln having a chamber, a bag wall ar ranged along a side thereofand providing a vertical air supply passage opening into the upperportion of said chamber, a series of elevated tables arranged along thetop portion of said bag wall and bridging said passage and spaced apartto provide intervening air `spaces, the crown of said chamber formedwith a series of vertical lire holes opening into the upper portion ofthe chamber over said tables and adapted to direct burning fluid fueldownwardly into the chamber and toward said tables.

5. A kiln having a chamber, a vertical bag wall forming in connectionwith the adjacent wall of the chaipber, a vertical air passage openinginto the upper portion of the chamber, a series of elevated spacedtables extending from the bag wall to said adjacent wall and supportedby corbels carried by said walls, t-he crown of the chamber beingprovided with lire holes opening thereinto immediately over said tables.

6. A kiln having a chamber provided with a longitudinal series of fireholes opening downwardly through the crown thereof into the upperportion of the chamber about at the spring of the crown arch, means forsupplying fluid fuel to said lire holes, means for supplying air intothe upper portion of the chamber immediately below said lire holes, anddeflecting and diffusing means arranged immediately below said flreholes.

7. A continuous kiln having a series of chambers, means for maintainingdraft therethrough, a wall of said kiln being provided with a depressedlongitudinal fluid fuel supply flue having normally closed branch outletopenings through the kiln top and opposite said chambers, respectively,a depressed hot air distributing flue common to all of said chambers andhaving normally closed openings through the kiln top and opposite saidchambers, respectively, chamber fines arranged longitudinally of saidchambers, respectively, each chamber flue having a longitudinal seriesof side passages opening into the upper portion of its chamer, separatemanually controlled means operative from the kiln top for independ entlycontrolling said passages, respectively, each chamber flue at itsopposite ends having normally closed openings through the kiln top, oneof said openings being adjacent to a fuel flue opening and the otheradjacent to a distributing flue opening, and separate removable portablehoods on the kiln top and arranged to temporarily place any fuel flueopening in communication with an adjacent-chamber flue opening, and theopenings of other chamber flues temporarily in communication withadjacent distributing llue openings, substantially as described.

8. A continuous kiln comprising a series of chambers provided with meansfor maintaining draft therethrough, a hot air dis tributing fluearranged transversely thereof and having normally closed openingsthrough the kiln top opposite said chambers respectively, chamber fluesarranged longitudinally of said chambers, respectively, and each at oneend having a normally closed opening through the kiln top arrangedadjacent to an opening of said distributing flue, portable independenthoods on the kiln top adapted to temporarily place several of saidchamber llue openings in communication with the adjacent distributingflue openings to deliver and receive hot air, each chamber flue having alongitudinal series of side passages into the upper portion of itschamber, and independent means for separately controlling said passages,respectively, having independent manually actuated operating meansoperative from the kiln top, substantially as described.

9. A continuous kiln comprising a series of chambers and means formaintaining draft therethrough, chamber flues for said chambers,respectively, arranged longitudinally thereof, each chamber having aseries of vertical top lire holes arranged longitudinally thereof, eachflue having a series of passages arranged longitudinally thereof andopening laterally into the lire holes of its chamber, respectively,independent valves for separately controlling said passages,respectively, having vertical manually operated actuating meansindependently operative from the kiln top, and means whereby hot air canbe taken from a chamber through said holes, passages and iue anddistributed to another chamber through its flue, passages and holes,substantially as described.

l0. A continuous kiln comprising a series of chambers, each chamberhaving a series of vertical lire holes arranged longitudinally thereofand opening into the upper part of the chamber, chamber flues for saidchambers, respectively, arranged longitudinally thereof and havinglongitudinal series of lateral passages opening into the adjacent lireholes respectively, above the lower open ends thereof, each passageprovided with a separate controlling valve having actuating meansoperative from the exterior of the kiln, whereby each valve of theseveral series can be separately and independently operated, and meanswhereby iuid can be drawn from or passed to said chambers through themedium of said flues, passages and holes under the distributing andequalizing con trol of said valves, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature, in presence of tvvo witnesses.

GEORGE ELMER GOLDNER. WVitnesses LEoN VINCENT, H. S. VINCENT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

